West Ham are now in pole position to sign New York City striker Valentin Castellanos - with Argentine giants River Plate struggling to meet the 23-year-old’s £12.8million valuation.
Castellanos has become a talisman for Manchester City ’s sister club in the United States and River Plate coach Marcelo Gallardo wants him to replace Etihad-bound Julian Alvarez. But the Buenos Aires-based club cannot afford NYCFC’s asking price - and the fee won’t be any problem for the ambitious Hammers.
Boss David Moyes wants to add more goals to his team after finishing seventh in the Premier League - and Castellanos is regarded as a gamble worth taking at the price NYCFC are demanding.